Filler unit for a container filling machine



Oct. 3, 1961 c. z. MONROE ET AL 3,

FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Original Filed July 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS U CHARLES Z. Mouaoe HARRY B. EGLESTON 123; W Y'M ATTYS.

Oct. 3, 1961 C. Z. MONROE ET AL FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Original Filed July 16, 1957 5 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES 2. Memo: HARRY B. EG-LESTON ATTYS,

Oct. 3, 1961 c. z. MONROE ETAL 3,002,540

FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Original Filed July 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 3,1961 c. z. MONROE ET AL 3,002,540

FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Original Filed July 16, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS CHARLES 2.Mo-aoe HARRY B. EGLESTON Oct. 3, 1961 c. z. MONROE ET AL 3, 0 4

FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Original Filed July 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CuAau-zs Z. Manna: Hmav B. EGLESTON United States Patent '0 02, 40 FILLER UNIT FOR A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Charles Z. Monroe, Detroit," and Harry B. Egleston,

Livonia, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Ex- Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original application July 16, 1957, Ser. No. 672,200, now Patent No. 2,957,289, dated Oct. 25, 1960. Divided and this application Apr. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 808,854

6 Claims. (Cl. 141-308) The present invention relates in general to carton forming machinery of the type disclosed in United States Patent. Nos. 2,357,535 and 2,367,884, issued September 5, 1944, and January 23 1945, respectively, on" the application of Charles Z. Monroe. More specifically, the invention is concerned with an improved filler unit adapted to me embodied in a machine for forming, coating, filling, closing and sealing gable top containers of paperboard or the like. The machine finds particular, but not exclusive, utility in producing, from flat collapsed blanks, finished and filled cartons of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,750,095, issued June 12, 1956-,"on the application of Carroll R. Alden.

' This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 672,200,1iled July 16, 1957, and entitled Machine for Fabricating Containers, now Patent No, 2,957,289, dated October 25, 1960.

()ne object of the invention is to provide an improved filler unit for aca'rton' forming and filling machine. of the character set forth and which will be of simple, rugged construction lending itself particularly well to easy assembly and disassembly for sanitary maintenance.-

Another object is to provide a filler unit of the. foregoing type capableof' operating with speed, precision and reliability.

A further object is to provide a filler unit of the character set forth and having a particularly simple yet highly eifective calibrating arrangement.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are perspective views showing opposite sides of an illustrative machine embodying a filler unit exemplifying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine and filler unit of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and end elevational views, re.- sip-actively showing the tiller unit of the machine.

BIG. 6 is. an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing certain details of the filler unit.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged vertical sectional views through one of. thefiller headsof the filler -.uni.t, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are fragmentary views detailing certain parts of the filler unit.

While the invention is susceptible of various-modifications and alternative. constructions, acert'ain illustrative embodiment has been showninthe drawings and will he dGSCl'i' ,ed below in. considerable detail. It should. be-un: derstood, however, that there is no intention. to invention to the specific form. disclosed, but on'th con..- trary, the intention is,- to cover all modifications, alternative constructions and. equivalents-falling the s ars of t -in t e a in u d-i @PBFFlit-d Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1. and 2,,the in,- vention is thereshovin exemplified in a. novel. machine. 30 for fabricating containers of paperboard or the. like and having a filler unit embodying the present invention. 'Ehe machine is adapted to-receivexa supply of flat tubular blanks which are appropriately cut and scored, and to operate on them in. such a manner that. aprocession at Patented Oct. 3, 1961 gag filled and sealed containers is discharged therefrom. In the course of such operation, each flat tubular blank is withdrawn from a stack or magazine by means of a feeding mechanism, is erected into a tubular form and passed through a bottom forming mechanism, a moistureproof coating mechanism, and acooling mechanism, the container then being filled, closed, sealed, and discharged from the machine.

The machine 355 is particularly well adapted to produce paper containers such as the familiar gable top paper milk container disclosed'in Alden U.S. Patent No. 2,750,095, supra. This container comprises a single sheet of paper or paperboard cut and scored so as to be divided into a plurality of panels and areas which are utilized for the walls of the container and the closure parts when the container is erected. The. blank, as presented to the ma-- chine, is folded upon itself and has its side seam already guided, thus defining a collapsed, open-ended tube. When. erected and subsequently processed in the machine 30, the resulting container is self-sustaining in shape, strong, sanitary, and low incost.

The illustrative machine 30 is constructed upon a console 31 supported a slight distance above the door as by means of legs 32-. The console is subdivided intoa numberof compartments each readily accessible from the exterior of the machine by means of access apere tures. or suitable. doors.

The interior of the console 31 houses mechanisms for moving, erectingbottom-forming, coating and. cooling the containers fabricated. by the machine 30. The exte-v rior of the console, on the other hand, supports mecha nisrns for moving, partially closing or breaking, filling, closing, sealing and stapling the containers after they emerge from the interior. These latter mechanisms are situated primarily on top of the console 31.

Referring more-specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, it might be noted that the machine 30 has a magazine 34v situated on top of the consoleand adapted to hold a stack of flat, collapsed container blanks B. The blanks B are with drawn one by one from. the magazine and each erected in an open-ended, squared tube by means of a feeder unit. The latter presents each blank to a loader unit 84 which, in turn, transfers it to a mandrel assembly situated inside the. console of the machine. The latter and various related mechanisms glue and close the bottom flaps .of. the blank, coat it with moistureproofing material, such as paraiiin, and discharges it as an open-topped con.- tainer into 'a large cooling compartment situated inside the machine console. beneath an impervious roof panel 184.. The. cooled container is then transferred from cooling compartment by means of an elevator and break.- er mechanism. 211 driven. from continuous drive shaft 212 of the machine. The container 13, still open at the top, thereupon presented to a waiting carrier 218 form ing one of. a series of. carriers on an upper conveyor 219 which moves the container under the splash guard. 231 and past the various mechanisms. on top of the console for the filling, closing, sealing and stapling operations.

All. of the foregoing. mechanisms are grouped in the machine 3.0 in a. highly compact. manner, thereby rnizing the size. of the. machine. Such compactness is achieved, moreover, while maintaining a relatively rapid flow ofbontainers'. through. the machine and pennitting ready access for. cleaning and maintenance. By reason of this, and also inview of. the. fact. that the feeding and discharging. stations of. the machine are placed in roles tively close proximity, it is readily possible for a single. operator to run the machine.

Mounted on-the impervious top 184 of the cooling compartment. and on. the same side. of the conveyor 219' as the elevator and breaker mechanism 211 is. a filler unit 232 (FIGS. 1. 5., ii clusive). The filler unit. 232 comprises a base 234 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) having an upstanding column 235 whichcarries a supply tank 236 at its upper end. The tank 236 is adapted to hold a relatively large amount of milk or other fluid to be packaged in the containers processed by the machine 30. Mounted within the supply tank 236 and projecting downwardly therefrom are one or more filler heads 238 (FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9). In the present instance, the filler unit 232 has two such heads which are identical, each head being mounted in overlying relation with a corresponding container station along the supporting ramp 225. In this case, two-stage filling is employed, each filler head 238 supplying half the contents of the container and each container passing successively under each filler head.

Power for actuating the moving parts of the filler unit 232 is derived from continuously driven shaft 212. The latter operates a cam mechanism within the base 234 and moves the filler parts intermittently in timed relation with the motion of the upper conveyor 219.

' As indicated in FIGS. 7 through 9, each filler head 233 comprises a fixed cvlinder 239 detachably and sealin'gly mounted in a suitable aperture in the bottom of the shpply tank 236. Adiustablv and sealinglv mounted within the depending portion of the fixed cylinder 239 is a calibration bushing 240. Slidably and sealingly mounted within the calibration bushing is an operating sleeve 241 adapted to be reciprocated vertically by means of a forked arm 242. The latter is rigidly fixed upon a bracket 244 which is rigidly secured to a movable sleeve 245 situated on the column 235 and reciprocated vertically bv means of the 'filler unit cam-mechanism. The top of the movible'sleeve 245 is protectivelvenclosed by means of a skirt 2 6 (FIGS. 4 and -5) fixed to' the top of the colurnn 235.

Telescopicallv mounted on the upper end of the op erating sleeve 241 (FIGS. 7, 8, 9) and resiliently biased downwardly with'respect thereto by means of spring 248 is a displacement cvlinder 249 which is somewhat bells haped. Adiacent its lower external periphery the displacement cylinder 249 is provided with an O-ring 250 adapting the displacement'cvlinder to sealinglv engage the inner peripheral wall of the fixed cylinder 239 which proiects upwardly into the supply tank. Within the interior of the displacement cylinder 249 the operating sleeve 241 is provided with a lateral enlargement, abut inent, or shoulder 251 intermediate the ends of the sleeve 241. The abutment 251 is adapted to engage the inner wall of the displacement cylinder in the event of sufiicient relative sliding between the latter and the operating sleeve. The operating sleeve is also provided with relatively long filling slots 252 providing communication between the interior of the operating sleeve and the interiors of the displacement cylinder and the fixed cylinder.

Concentrically mounted within the operating sleeve 241 and rigidly fixed with respect thereto is an air exhaust tube 254. The latter carries adiacent its lower end a detachable orifice control collar 255 having one or more radial abutments 256 which engage a suitable stop shoulder 258 inside the operating sleeve (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9). The upper end of the exhaust tube 254 is held in place by means of spring retainer collar 259 partially nested within the upper end of the operating sleeve 241. A retainer clip 260 attached to the upper end of the exhaust tube 254 prevents the spring retainer collar 259 from slipping off the tube. Spring 248, compressed between the retainer collar 259 and the upper end of the displacement cylinder 249, provides seating pressure for the latter and also maintains the exhaust tube 254 in position within the operating sleeve 241.

A dispensing valve 261 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the operating sleeve 241. In this instance, the

- 4 mounted on the lower end of the operating sleeve (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9).

The head 262 is maintained in predetermined spaced relation with the internally tapered lower end portion 265 of the operating sleeve 241 so as to define an annular orifice of appropriate size for the viscosity of the fluid to be dispensed. The orifice control collar 255 positions the head 262 and thereby determines the size of the orifice. The vertical length of the collar 255 is somewhat greater than that of its radial abutments 256. The size of the dispensing orifice may, accordingly, be altered by detaching the collar 255 and reassembling it in inverted position on the tube 254.

The valve bushing 264 is formed with a tapered seat 266 at its lower end and which is adapted to sealingly engage a resilient O-ring 268 carried by the head 262. Engagement between the seat and O-ring 266, 268 when the bushing 264 is down, effectively closes the dispensing orifice.

- For the purpose of opening the dispensing valve 261 upon descent of the operating sleeve 241 into filling position over a container B, provision is made for raising the valve actuating bushing 264 as an incident to such motion. In furtherance of this objective, the bushing 264 is provided with a generally rectangular container stop 269 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). As the sleeve 241 descends, the container stop 269 is accosted by the leading and trailing top edges of the container B, sliding the bushing 264 upwardly relative to the sleeve 241 and opening the dispensing orifice. In order to maintain the stop 269 in proper position and prevent rotational movement of the bushing 264 on the sleeve 241, the upper portion of the bushing 264 is cut away so that it will achieve a comfortable sliding fit between the prongs of the forked drive arm 242 which operates the sleeve 241.

To keep the mouth of the container B in a fully open position and also preserve suflicient stillness in the container walls to lift the container stop 269, a spreader rail 270 of substantially U-shaped form (FIG. 6) is fixed in overlying relation with the filling stations; The spreader rail 270 is carried on a bracket 271 fixed to the cover 226 and is arranged with the rounded end of the U pointing in the direction from which the containers are received for filling. The rail 270 is so proportioned that it enters between the upstanding, opposed top flaps of the container and maintains them in fully spread relation.

To prevent accumulated condensation on the supply tank 236 or the filler heads 238 from dripping into the containers as they pass beneath these members, each bushing 264 is provided with a suitable annular drip pan 272 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). In addition. a downwardly inclined semi-circular protective panel 274 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is interposed between the tank 236 and the outer end of valve comprises a head 262 of frusto-conical shape fixed I to the lower end of the air exhaust tube 254' and a container-actuated valve bushing 264 sealingly and slidably the conveyor 219. Further protection is also afiorded by the splash guard 231 which extends under the tank 236.

The operation of the filler head 238 may readily be followed by starting with the head in the condition illustrated in FIG. 7. At this time, the displacement cylinder 249 and operating sleeve 241 are in their fully raised position, permitting fluid from the tank 236 to fiow freely into the interior of the sleeve 241 and into the interiors of the cylinders 239, 249. As the forked drive plate 242 moves the operating sleeve 2 41 downwardly, the displacement cylinder 249, due to the biasing effect of spring 248, will also move downwardly until the lower end of the displacement cylinder 249 commences to telescope into the open upper end of the fixed cylinder 239. This pressurizes the fluid trapped betweenthe interior of the cylinders 239, 249 and between the interior of the sleeve 241 and the exterior of the tube 254, causing excess fluid to surge upwardly and out through overflow vents 275 in the retainer collar and vents 276 in the operating sleeve. As the operating sleeve 241 descends further, the displacement cylinder 249 seats firmly within the fixed cylinder 239 but the sleeve 241 continues to descend. The shoulder 251 thereupon separates from the inner wall of the displacement cylinder 249 and, because the diameter of the sleeve 241 is, in the present instance, somewhat larger above the shoulder 251 than below it, additional fluid continues to be displaced or metered out of the interior of the head 238 via the vents 276. This metering action is due to the fact that the enclosed volume within the displacement cylinder 249 is being progressively reduced by the descent of the sleeve 241 and shoulder 251 therein with an increasing exposure of the larger diameter portion of sleeve 241 above the shoulder 251. Such action continues until the operating sleeve 241 has reached the extreme lower limit of its stroke, insuring that a consistently uniform quantity of fluid will beaccumulated and discharged during each operating cycle of the unit.

As the operating sleeve 241 and dispensing valve 261 approach the lower limit of their travel, and provided that there is a container in the station underlying the filler head- 238, the leading and trailing opposed top edges of thecontainer B will accost the containertop sto'p' 269 (FIGS. 4, and 6). Such action raises the bushing 264, opening the dispensing valve orifice as indicated in FIG; 8 and permitting a measured quantity of fluid from the interior of the filler head 238 to be discharged into the underlying container. The flow of discharged fluid tends to spread out and follow the interior walls of the container, with the result that air displaced by the incoming fluid is discharged centrally and upwardly from the container via the exhaust tube 254. The existence of an adequate air exhaust passage at this point materially reduces any tendency toward foaming.

After the contents of the filler head 238' have been discharged, the operating sleeve 241 is driven upwardly by the filler unit cam mechanism and the forked drive arm 242. As an incident to this upward travel, the valve actuating bushing 264 descends and closes the discharge orifice. The shoulder 251 of the operating sleeve 241 moves upwardly into contact with the inner wall of the displacement cylinder 249, lifting the same and restoring the parts of the filler head to the position indicated in FIG. 7 for the start of another cycle.

For the purpose of calibrating or adjusting the quantity of fluid dispensed by the filler head 238, the calibration bushing 240 may be precisely adjusted relative to the fixed cylinder 239 so as to change the internal volume of the latter. This is accomplished in the present instance by means of a locating pin 278 projecting from the bushing 240 and adapted to move vertically in a suitable slot 27? in the wall of the fixed cylinder 239 (FIGS. 7, 7A, 7B). The calibration bushing 240 and locating pin 278 may be adjustably positioned by engagement with any selected one of a plurality of calibration apertures 280 in a spring clip 281. The clip 281 is mounted in a shallow groove in the outer periphery of the fixed cylinder 239 and is held in place by means of a simple snap fit.

After the containers leave the filler unit 232, they are moved around the outer end of the conveyor 219 and presented to a closer mechanism 282 situated on the opposite side of the conveyor from the filler unit (FIGS. 1 and 2). The latter is adapted to interlock and fold the elements of the container top closure into closed position.

The container then enters the sealing and stapling mechanism 285 (FIGS. 1 and 3) where its top rib is firmly clamped between two jaws, sealed by means of heat, and receives a staple. The completed and filled container then emerges in finished form from the sealing and stapling mechanism 235 and is led by discharging guide rails 346 to an appropriate discharge conveyor 348.

We claim as our invention:

1. A filler unit for a container filling machine comprising, in combination, a supply tank, a fixed cylinder sealingly mounted in an aperture in the bottom of said supply tank, a displacement cylinder adapted to telescope within said fixed cylinder and to trap fluid within said cylinders, an operating sleeve having a lateral enlargement intermediate the ends thereof, said operating sleeve 6 being slidably mounted within said cylinders for upward and downward movement therein, means for moving said operating sleeve upwardly and downwardly within said cylinders, upward movement of said operating sleeve lifting said displacement cylinder through engagement of the same by said lateral enlargement, means for eifect'ing downward movement of said displacement cylinder upon downward movement of said operating sleeve, means defining at least one aperture in that portion of said operat ing sleeve within said cylinders establishing communication between the latter and the interior of said operating sleeve, means defining at least one metering vent in that portion of said operating sleeve outside said cylinders but within said supply tank and also establishing communication between the latter and the interior of said operating sleeve, a dispensing valve at the lower end of said operating sleeve, and an air exhaust tube running longitudinally of said operating sleeve.

2. A filler unit for a container filling machine comprising, in combination, a supply tank, a fixed cylinder sealingly mounted in an aperture in the bottom of said supply tank, a displacement cylinder adapted to fit said fixed cylinder telescopically and to trap fluid within said cylinders, an operating sleeve having a lateral enlargement intermediate the ends thereof, said operating sleeve being slidably mounted within said cylinders for upward and downward movement therein, means for moving said operating sleeve upwardly and downwardly within said cylinders, upward movement of said operating sleeve lifting said displacement cylinder through engagement ofthe same by said lateral enlargement, means for eflecting downward movement of said displacement cylinder up' on downward movement of said operating sleeve, means defining at least one slot through that portion of the wall of said operative sleeve enclosed within said cylinders, a dispensing valve at the lower end of said operating sleeve, a calibration bushing slidably and sealingly interposed between said fixed cylinder and said operating sleeve, and means for locating said calibration bushing at any one of a plurality of preselected positions relative to said fixed cylinder whereby the internal volume thereof is varied.

3. In a machine for filling containers, a filler head comprising, in combination, a fixed cylinder adapted for sealed mounting on the bottom of a fluid supply tank, a displacement cylinder adapted to fit telescopically within said fixed cylinder and to trap fluid within said cylinders, an operating sleeve having a lateral enlargement intermediate the ends thereof, said operating sleeve being slidably mounted within said cylinders to be moved upwardly and downwardly therein, means for moving said operating sleeve upwardly and downwardly within said cylinders, upward movement of said operating sleeve lifting said displacement cylinder through engagement of the same by said lateral enlargement, means for effecting downward movement of said displacement cylinder upon downward movement of said operating sleeve, means defining at least one aperture in that portion of the wall of said operating sleeve within said cylinders, an air exhaust tube running longitudinally of said operating sleeve and having an enlarged head fixed to the lower end thereof, a detachable collar mounted on said tube adjacent said head, said collar having a plurality of radial projections engaging the lower end portion of said operating sleeve and spacing said head therefrom so as to define a discharge aperture, and a container-actuated valve bushing slidably mounted on the lower end of said operating sleeve, said valve bushing having means thereon to open and close said discharge aperture as an incident to said upward and downward motion of said operating sleeve.

4. In a machine for filling containers, a filler head comprising, in combination, a fixed cylinder mountable on the bottom of a fluid supply tank, a displacement cylinder adapted to fit telescopically within said fixed cylinder and to trap fluid within said cylinders, an operating sleeve having a lateral enlargement intermediate the ends thereof, said operating sleeve being slidably mounted within said cylinders to be moved upwardly and downhaving an enlarged frusto-conical head fixed to the lower end thereof, a detachable collar mounted on said tube adjacent said head, said collar having a plurality of radial projections engaging the lower end portion of said operating sleeve and spacing said head therefrom so as to define a discharge aperture, a container-actuated valve bushing slidably mounted on the lower end of said operating sleeve, said valve bushing having means thereon to open and close said discharge aperture as an incident to upward and downward motion of said operating sleeve, a retainer collar fixed to the upper end of said air exhaust tube, and a resilient element interposed between said retainer collar and said displacement cylinder for moving said displacement cylinder downwardly upon downward movement of said operating sleeve.

- 5. A filler-unit for container filling machines comprising, in combination, a supply tank having an aperture in the wall thereof, a fixed cylinder mounted on said supply tank. incommunication with said aperture, 3. displacement cylinder disposed for telescopic engagement with said fixed cylinder, an operating sleeve mounted within said cylinders for upward and downward movement therein, means for moving said operating sleeve upwardly and downwardly within said cylinders, said operating sleeve having a first portion mounted for sliding movement within said displacement cylinder and a secnd portion mounted for sliding movement within said fixed cylinder, a lateral enlargement on said operating sleeve between said first and second portions adapted to engage said displacement cylinder upon upward move-fment of said operating sleeve to move said displacement cylinder out of enlargement with said fixed cylinder,- means for effecting downward movement of said dis-' placement cylinder upon downward movement of said operating sleeve, a dispensing valve at the lower end of. said operating sleeve, means defining communication-- between the interior of said operating sleeve and said cylinders, and means defining communication between the. interior of said operating sleeve and said supply tank.-

6. A filler unit for containers and comprising, in combination, a supply tank having an aperture in the wallthereof, a fixed cylinder sealingly mounted on said supply tank in communication with said aperture, a dis-- placement cylinder disposed for telescopic engagement,

with saidfixed cylinder, an operating sleeve mounted said fixed cylinder, a lateral enlargement on said operating sleeve between said first and second portions adapted to engage said displacement cylinder upon upward movement of said operating sleeve to move said displacement cylinder out of engagement with said fixed cylinder, means for elfecting downward movement Ofl said displacement cylinder upon downward movement of said operating sleeve, a dispensing valve at the lower; end of said operating sleeve, means defining communication between the interior ofsaid operating sleeve and said cylinders, means defining communication between the interior of said operating sleeve and said supply tank,

and an air exhaust tube housed within said operating sleeve and connected to said dispensing valve but sealed off from the interior of said operating sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bodendoerfer et al. Dec. 2, 1952 Pechy June 11, 1957 

